Chair



April 25, 1944.

L. A.. HEDDENS 2,347,478

CHAIR Filed Oct. 10. 1939 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 J: uvmvroa Zia-I .I

ATTORNEY.

April 25, 1944.

L. A. HEDDENS CHAIR Filed Oct. 10, 1939 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 J5 iugzzvz mi BY- Q I ATTORNEY. Y

Patented Apr. 25, 1944 Lawrence A. Heddens, Bradford, Pa., assignor to Mahoney Chair Company, Gardner, Mass.

Application October 10, 1939, Serial No. 298,837

1 Claim.

ihis invention relates to folding chairs, commonly known as beach or lawn chairs, and has for an object to provide a chair of this type which may be of unusually light construction and embody relatively few parts in the interests of economy, and which at the same time has sufficient strength and rigidity to adequately sustain the weight stresses to which it is normally subjected.

Ease and compactness in folding and unfolding or setting up beach or lawn chairs is a very important factor, and another object of the present invention is to provide a chair of the type I specified which may be manipulated to folded and unfolded or set up positions with unusual ease.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a chair con- :structed in accordance with the features of the present invention, the chair being shown in set up position;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing Fig. 3 is a plan view of the chair shown in {folded condition; and

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the chair comprises a pair of leg frames, each frame including front legs in and Illa which at their lower ends are .connected by a cross rod or brace i I and at their upper ends are pivotally connected to the front ends of arm rests l2 and 12a. The rear legs of the chair are indicated at l3 and Ma and at their upper ends are pivotally connected to the rear ends of the arm rests and also to side rails Ma and Nb of the back 14, the latter having a fabric or canvas back rest proper which at an intermediate point is supported by a kidney strap The upper ends of the back side rails Ma and Nb are connected by a cross rod or brace It and at their lower ends the said back side rails are connected by a cross rod or brace H which projects through seat side rails Na and 18b forming part of the seat frame l8 of the chair and pivotally connect the lower end of the back to the seat. The seat is provided with a fabric portion proper which is reinforced by a strap l9 connected to the seat side rails [8a and i819.

A pair of brace members 20 and 20a are provided and at their rear ends are pivotally connected to the lower extremities of the rear legs l3 and 13a and at their front ends are pivotally connected to the front legs Ill and Illa at an intere mediate point of the latter by means of a cross rod 2| which also forms a support for the front end of the seat. These brace members are also connected to the front legs by means of links 22 which limit the spread of the front legs, each link having a slot 220. therein in which a pivot stud 23 connected to the adjacent brace member has movement. In combination with this link connection, the side rails 18a and I8!) of the seat frame each has secured on the underside thereof brackets 24 in which the cross rod 2| engages.

At the front end of the seat, the side rails Eta and lBb are connected by a cross rod or brace 25, the fabric seat l8 being wrapped around and attached to this rod.

A cross rod 26 projects through the lower ends of the legs I3, I30. and into the adjacent ends of the braces 20, 29a. and provides a pivotal connection between these parts.

This combination of a pivotal and link connection between the brace members 28 and 20a, and the front legs 10 and Illa together with the sliding connection between the seat and the cross rod 2| provides for ease in folding and unfolding the chair, while at the same time permits adjustment of the seat to different positions of use. In fact the chair will unfold due to its own weight.

Another feature of advantage is that by having the rear legs l3 and 13a pivotally connected to the back at the point indicated and extending directly to the floor in a substantially straight line, the weight of an occupant is taken and applied through the legs in a substantially straight line directly to the floor. This feature is of material advantage in contradistinction to folding chairs wherein the weight is imposed on the rear legs through the medium of props or the like. Furthermore, this particular feature reduces the number of parts without sacrificing strength and rigidity.

It will be understood that certain changes in construction and design may be adopted in both types of chairs herein disclosed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A folding chair comprising a pair of front legs and a pair of rear legs, arm rests pivotally connected to the upper ends of said front and rear legs, a seat frame and a back frame, the seat frame being pivotally connected at its rear to the lower end of the back frame, brace members pivotally connected at their rear ends to the lower extremities of the rear legs and extending forwardly and upwardly at an inclination and being pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the front legs, said arm rests and brace members coacting to maintain the front and rear legs in slightly converging spaced relation when the chair is set up, the upper ends of the rear legs being also pivotally connected to the back frame and. taking the weight from the rear end of the seat and the back frame in a substantially straight line to the floor or other support on which the chair may be disposed, a cross rod extending beneath the seat frame and forming a slidable support for the front extremity of the latter, said cross rod at its opposite ends projecting through the front legs and providing a pivotal connection between the brace members and front legs, guide brackets connected to the under side of the seat frame, said cross rod projecting through said brackets to limit the sliding movement of the seat on said rod, and links pivotally connecting the brace members to the front legs, said links each having a slot therein and said brace members each being provided with a projection engaging in said slot to thereby limit the spread of the front and rear legs when the chair is set up.

LAWRENCE A. HEDDENS. 

